176 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Monarda Fistulosa. 



WILD BERGAMOT ; Syns. M. AFFINIS, M. ALTISSIMA, M. MEDIA, 

 M. OBLONGATA, M. PURPUREA, and M. RTTGOSA ; Nat. Ord. 

 LABIATE. 



THE Wild Bergamot has a pleasant smell ; it has, however, the 

 objectionable property of attracting great numbers of bees and 

 wasps. 



Compared with the scarlet M. didyma, the more striking 

 differences are the purple flowers, which are less, and mostly 

 produced in single heads. The bracts are tinted with purple, 

 and they are more bent down the stems ; the latter, too, are only 

 half as thick and of a dark brown colour. 



For culture and flowering period, see M. Russelliana. 



Monarda Russelliana. 



RUSSELL'S MONARDA ; Nat. Ord. LABIATE. 

 ANOTHER distinct species. Its flowers are white, with pistil 

 tinted purple, and less in size than either of the above. The 

 bract is remarkably large, and further amplified by numerous 

 small leaves amongst the flowers ; all are deeply tinted or veined 

 with purple ; the leaves are larger than those of M. didyma, and 

 those near the tops of the stems are also tinted with purple on 

 their stalks, mid-ribs, and edges ; the stems are green, rounded 

 at the corners, channelled, and smooth. 



There are other species than those I have named, but the 

 above-mentioned are not only the more distinct, and well represent 

 the genus, but as flowers they form a richly beautiful trio of 

 colour, so that, when grown side by side, their effectiveness is 

 much enhanced ; as cut bloom they answer well for furnishing 

 old vases. Either growing or cut, their flowers and leaves are 

 pleasant, but if bruised the odour is too powerful ; they, however, 

 when used in moderation, form a valuable ingredient of pot 

 pourri. 



They may be grown in ordinary soil, and in any position but a 

 too shady one. The propagation of these plants may be carried 

 out any time, by cutting small squares of the matted roots from 

 old specimens, but it will be found that if allowed to grow to 

 bold examples their effect will be all the more telling. 



Flowering period, July to September. 



Morina Longifolia. 



Syn. M. ELEGANS; WHORL FLOWER; Nat. Ord. 



DIPSACE^J. 



UNTIL this plant comes into flower there is little about it for us, 

 who are trained to dislike and almost despise thistles, to admire. 



